Erik Ten Hag provides Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka injury update

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 21 October 2023

Ten Hag provides Shaw, Wan-Bissaka injury update

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag hints that Luke Shaw will be missing until after the November international break, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to return imminently.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has suggested that Luke Shaw will be missing until after the November international break, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka is "not too far away" from a return.

Shaw has been unavailable for selection for the Red Devils since picking up a muscular problem during the clash with Tottenham Hotspur on August 19.

Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, has been absent since the middle of September due to a hamstring strain, further depleting the full-back options available to Ten Hag.

Tyrell Malacia, who is back-up to Shaw at left-back, has also not featured this season, having undergone knee surgery over the summer.

Ten Hag is not expecting Shaw to return "in this block of games", suggesting that the England international will be missing for the team's next seven matches, before a potential return against Everton after the international break at the end of November.

Tottenham Hotspur's Dejan Kulusevski in action with Manchester United's Luke Shaw on August 19, 2023 © Reuters

However, Wan-Bissaka is closing in on a return to first-team training, with the right-back expected to be back on the field in the near future.

"Of course, they are closer [to a comeback]. But so, for instance, Luke Shaw, I don't expect him back in this block of games," Ten Hag told reporters on Friday.

"For instance, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, I don't think he's too far away from returning into team training and so back in the team."

Man United have been boosted by the returns of Sergio Reguilon and Raphael Varane ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Sheffield United, but Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo are still unavailable, while Casemiro will be absent against the Blades due to a problem he suffered while representing Brazil.

The Red Devils have had significant injury problems this season, but Ten Hag is expecting the team to improve once the injury list has shortened.

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane on August 14, 2023 © Reuters

"If you can't use, every time, the same players, you can't bring in the routines," said the manager. "Some routines slipped away in the last weeks and, yeah, that had a bad effect on the results.

"As you said, I never use it as an excuse. We still have a good squad, we still have to win, we still have our principles, rules and way of playing.

"The players should know what to do, of course, but in co-operation, sometimes with different combinations that have not played so often together, sometimes you get hesitation. Such details, the opposition take benefit from it. As I said, and you said, you can never use that as an excuse.

"I have dealt with it before. Yeah, sometimes, you find yourself in such a bad place; as a manager, coaching staff and team. You have to make the best out of it, to stick together, to be positive. So I know, when the players will return, we will play at high levels absolutely."

Man United have lost six of their 11 matches in all competitions this season, including four in the Premier League, but they recorded a 2-1 victory over Brentford before the international break.